Toy



Jul 17, 1934. QHNS 1,966,895

TOY

Filed April 26, 1933 Patented July 1?, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to toys and will readily be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a 'view of a boy operating the toy; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the toy in inoperative position;

Figure 3 is a detail view partly in section, show- 19 ing the swivel connection; and

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view of the free end of the streamer, shown in the manner in which it is reinforced.

Referring to the drawing, the toy comprises three distinct portions, a tension member 10, a weight 11 attached to the tension member; and a streamer 13 also attached to the weight 11. The tension member 10 is suitably a cord which may be grasped by the hand conveniently. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the weight 11 is shown in the form of a washer of substantial mass. It may, however, be a weight of any desired shape. The streamer 13 is relatively long and may suitably be formed of paper, 5 crepe-paper being preferred. If desired, the streamer 13 may be formed of fabric, such as a ribbon of suitable hue.

In use, the tension member 10 is grasped at some distance from the weight 11, and the weight is caused to swing through the air after the manner of a sling shot. The weight 11 will execute a path as far away from the operators' hand as possible, and the streamer 13 will follow this path. In Figure 1 I have shown an operator swinging the weight 11 in a circle. The streamer 13 follows 7 the weight in its circular path and the streamer 13 is preferably long enough so as to give the impression of a complete loop, thus resembling the effect produced by a skilfully handled lasso or 40 lariat. This illusion may be heightened by the ease with which the apparent loop can be moved from one side of the body to the other. This may be done by simply transferring the plane of the tension member 10 and weight 11 to the other side of the body, the streamer 13 following the weight in all its movements.

I prefer to provide in the system between the portion of the tension member grasped by the hand and the attached end of the streamer 13, a

swivel 14. This swivel 14 prevents twisting of the attached end of the streamer 13 about its longitudinal axis, which twist is quite objectionable when swinging is arrested, since it leaves the streamer 13 in a twisted condition so that it is hard to roll it up into compact form, as shownin Figure 2. The swivel 14 may be of any suitable type. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, I have shown a swivel constituted by a short length of chain of the well-known ball and socket type.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the cord 10. is secured to one end of the link of the swivel chain 14 by means of wire 15. The washer 11 is secured to the other end of the swivel chain 14 by means of a piece of wire 16. The streamer 13 is secured to the washer 11 by means of a short length of string 1'7. The secured end of the streamer 13 is preferably bunched together, as indicated at 18, and the string 1'7 is securely knotted thereto.

I preferto reinforce the free end of the streamer 13, particularly when a paper streamer is employed. This may be done by turning the end of the paper back upon itself to form a hem, the paper being secured in this position by means of adhesive. The reinforced end is shown at 19 in Figures 1 and 4. This reinforcement prevents fraying of the streamer and also prevents to a considerable extent the production of a fluttering noise while the streamer is moving rapid- 1y through the air.

It will be understood that the device may be modified considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, I may secure one or more additional streamers 20 to the tension member 10, so that a plurality of streamers in spaced relation may be gyrated in orderly manner.

It is preferred to provide the. additional streamer 20 with a swivel'21 so that the objectionable twisting of the streamer may not be incurred. If desired, weights 22 may be associated with each streamer 20, although these weights are not necessary provided the weight 11 has mass sumcient to carry the streamers included in the device.

Althoughthe invention has been described in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lariat simulating toy comprising a flexible tension member, a loop producing device including a ribbon-like streamer forming a linear extension of said member and being of such her being of a length equal to substantially oneilith the length of said streamer, means tethering said device to said tension member whereby twisting of the tension member during operation of the toy is prevented, and said inertia member being of suflicient weight to hold said tension member extended when leading said streamer to produce a substantially complete circle.

DAVID F. KUHNS. 

